Fate

I believe everything happens for a reason, the good, the bad, and the ugly. I try to begin everyday with the attitude that every action a person makes is involved in a huge web of destiny and fate. I believe that every accident and slip-up has more of a positive outcome than the initial negative incident. The good may not always be very evident; a terrible fire forcing a family out of their home can be a terrible experience. On the other hand, the burned house could shelter a homeless man for a week, bring the distant family closer together through the tough time, or allow a firefighter to prove his heroism and earn the respect he has yearned for years. I may contradict myself by saying that I do not fancy war; the thought of all the blood and hatred creates a bitter twister inside my heart. So how can I believe everything happens for a reason when I cannot understand the pain? Although I do not understand most plagues, I do my best to lend out a helping hand to try and better the situation. I do not believe you should take life with a grain of salt, but that you should take everyday with a grain of sugar. I believe you should enjoy every moment you have.

When I found out I was pregnant, I felt my whole life as I had known it collapse and crumble at my feet. I could see the light of freedom floating further away. But I felt a comfort I had never experienced before. For a long time I couldn’t understand how or why this could be happening to me. “I am only 17 years old!” I repeated to myself constantly. Then I began to realize that I was as prepared as an expecting mother could emotionally be. I may be losing a few years of my youth, but I am a strong advocate of sacrificing for others. My life is not so much about me anymore, but how my life will impact my child’s and others around me. I believe every situation in life is a learning experience, that there is always something to gain, even from the darkest days. For example, without the great depression, where would our banking and financial status be today?

I feel my whole life I have been preparing to bear a child at a young age. Even though I was the youngest child, I was supporting my siblings emotionally and sacrificing time on the playground to instead take care of them or picking up side jobs to make money. I believe everything happens for a reason, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Everything can be beautiful; it’s just how you look at life.

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This week’s essay

Growing up in the former Yugoslavia, lawyer Djenita Pasic enjoyed the peace of her religiously diverse country. But after the fall of communism and the outbreak of the Bosnian War, Pasic was forced to reevaluate her ideas about religion and tolerance. Click here to read her essay.